Page 51 of Unwritten Rules
“I could’ve done a lot more than shove you, so consider yourself lucky.” I reach out and wrap my hand around Tatum’s wrist, tugging her behind me. “You better get the fuck out of my sight before I change my mind.”
The blonde’s hero friend steps up to bat, puffing out his chest like it will help make him taller. It’s laughable, really.
“Don’t talk to him like that,” the guy with frosted tips grunts, folding his arms over his chest. “You can’t just come over here and demand we leave without proof of what you’re accusing him of.”
Khai steps beside me, cracking his knuckles. I’m grateful for his presence because I’m going to need some back up if shit hits the fan.
“So if I force her drink down your throat, nothing will happen, right? Go on. Be my guest.”
The preppy guys share a knowing look, but neither of them seem willing to back down or admit they’re in the wrong. Unfortunately for them, neither am I. If anything, I’m just getting started.
A crowd is starting to form around us, curious eyes investigating the nature of the showdown. Once a phone appears, I’ll need to get the hell out of here. The last thing I need is for some drunk fool to recognise me and Khai and upload a video to social media. Coach Phil will have a fucking field day with this, not to mention his daughter being involved.
“That’s what I thought,” I continue after the weight of their silence settles over me, adding fuel to the fire growing beneath my skin. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”
The blonde guy who had been touching Tatum sneers at me before turning his attention to where she’s hidden behind me,her hands gripping the back of my leather jacket. “Whatever. You’re not hot enough to fuck anyway.”
Blood rushes in my ears as ice floods my veins. My first instinct is to put my fist in this assholes mouth to stop him from spewing more shit or consider breaking his nose, but someone beats me to the punch. My eyes round at the edges when dark liquid splashes in his face, drenching his hair and white T-shirt. His hands fly to his face, wiping the liquid off his mouth while his friend glowers over my shoulder.
“You bitch!” the blonde roars, face twisted in anger. “I can’t believe you did that.”
Tatum peeks out from behind me, her spiked drink running down the features of the asshole in front of me. If I weren’t a live wire ready to spark at any second, I would’ve laughed and given her a high five for that move. Instead, I stick my arm out in front of her chest, keeping her as far away from these guys as possible.
“You’re lucky that’s all she did, asshole,” I seethe, muscles coiled tight. “Now get the fuck out of here before I break every finger on the hand I’m sure you’ll use to fuck yourself with tonight.”
The blonde huffs and runs a hand through his wet hair. He shoots a heated glare at me and Tatum before stalking off the dance floor with his friend hot on his heels, hopefully to the exit so they can’t try to hurt another woman here.
Tatum sags against my side. I spin to face her, wrapping my arms around her back. Her cheek meets my chest, the gesture easing the tension in my shoulders. Vanilla floods my senses, and I sigh at her familiar scent coating the air around us.
She’s here. She’s safe.
If I hadn’t been watching and missed him slipping that pill into her drink, tonight could’ve ended vastly different. The thought alone floods my body with unfamiliar rage. If he had hurt her… God, I don’t know what I would’ve done.
It scares me what I would do for this girl, even if it means ruining myself in the process.
Chapter Thirteen
TATUM
Raya stumbles onto the street with Khai’s arm hanging around her shoulders, wobbly legs barely able to keep him up. Khai certainly wasn’t kidding when he said he wanted to get legless tonight. I had thought it was a saying, but apparently, he took the word literally.
“God, you’re heavy,” Raya huffs as she hoists a giggling Khai higher. One wrong move and he’ll tumble from her barely tight grip. “What the hell do you eat?”
“Meat. Lots of it,” Khai mumbles, eyelids dropping. He presses a sloppy kiss to her cheek, and Raya scowls at him. “Thank you for looking after me, RayRay. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she mumbles, tightening her grip around his back as she makes a move for the black SUV sitting idle on the curb. “You owe me big time, Khai.”
Khai grins as she swings the door open and guides his lethargic body into the back seat. “Anything for you.”
With a sigh, Raya closes the door and turns to face me on the sidewalk, with a quiet Sinnett standing to my right. “Are you sure you don’t want to get in this Uber with us? I’m sure the driver won’t mind making a detour on the way.”
I shake my head and wrap my arms around my waist, fighting off the chill from the cool evening air. It’s nearly one in the morning, and now I’m regretting my choice not to bring a jacket with me. Dad told me I would need one, but I brushed him off as I raced out the door. Now I’m starting to wish I had listened to him.
“I’ll be okay. My house is a twenty-minute walk from here, so it’ll be fine.”
“You’re walking?” Sinnett’s deep voice sends a shiver racing down my spine. “Like hell you are.”
“Sinnett…”
